Dorchester Illustration no. 2357 William H. Nutter
At the Dorchester Historical Society, we are in the process of a year-long project to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of World War I. Using a collection of photographs we have of World War I Dorchester residents, we will be featuring soldiers in a number of short biographies throughout the year. At the culmination of the project, we hope to produce an online exhibit which highlights these men and their service to our country.
Our next biography features: William H. Nutter
William H. Nutter was born in Groveland, Massachusetts on June 21, 1874, to William A. and Judith (Eaton) Nutter. According to his obituary, he spent most of his childhood near the ocean around Newburyport and Portsmouth, NH. He attended Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts where he graduated in 1897.
After graduation, it appears William moved to Boston. In 1908, he married Maria Curry at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End of Boston. His marriage record lists his occupation as “broker.” The newly married couple soon made their home in Dorchester, and by 1910, are living on Greenock Street, near Franklin Field. However, now William’s occupation is listed as a salesman in the “trading stamps” industry. The couple also has a newborn daughter, Marion, who was born in June of 1909.
According to Dr. Perkins’s notes, William was sent to Mexico during the Mexican Revolution to work as a war correspondent. The picture that we have of him was taken in Mexico with General Huerta’s Federal Army in 1914. He was also witness to the “campaign at San Pedro de Las Colonias where decisive Battles of the Carrancista rebellion were fought.” When he returned to the United States, it appears William continued writing. When he registered for the draft in September of 1918, his occupation is listed as “author” and he is listed as not having an employer. Additionally, it appears as though him and his family have now moved to Mora Street in Dorchester’s Codman Hill neighborhood.
In 1918, William was issued a passport by the State Department in order to work with the Young Men’s Christian Association (Y.M.C.A.) during World War I. Since August of 1917, when General Pershing issued a general order, the Y.M.C.A. had been providing social services to troops in Europe. A note attached to William’s passport application indicates he was being sent overseas on a mission with the American Expeditionary Forces in connection with the Y.M.C.A. Dr. Perkins’s notes indicate that William spent about eight months in France and was detailed to “historical research work.” While he was there, he was stationed in Toul at the Headquarters of the Second Army and was also the manager of the Officers’ Club at Toul.
After the war, William is found still living in Dorchester with his wife and daughter on Marion Street. Although the census lists him as a salesman in the advertising industry, William must have still been writing. In fact, he had a recurring adventure series in the Boston Journal titled “Liverpool Jarge.” At some point during his writing career, he began using the pseudonym “Halliday Witherspoon” and in 1922, he published a book based on his newspaper series under that name titled “Liverpool Jarge.” Today, you can still read his book online (https://hdl.handle.net/2027/njp.32101067626539)!
By 1930, the Nutter family had moved to Dedham where they would remain until William’s death in 1941. William died on March 19 in 1941, and was buried in the family plot in Groveland, Massachusetts.
Do you have a family member from Dorchester who served in Word War I? Please let us know. Do you know more about William H. Nutter? We would love to hear from you! All material has been researched by volunteers at the Dorchester Historical Society, so please let us know if we got something wrong or you think a piece of the story is missing!
Sources
Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2012.
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts Birth Records, 1840-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2013.
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.
Ancestry.com. U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.
Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
Dr. Perkins World War I collection, Dorchester Historical Society, Boston, MA.
“William H. Nutter” obituary. Boston Globe, 21 March 1941.